65 1 The vocation of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews. 13 The joy of the elect, and the punishment of the wicked.

I have been sought of them that [a]asked not: I was found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that called not upon my Name.

I have [b]spread out mine hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walked in a way that was not good, even after their own [c]imaginations.

A people that provoked me ever unto my face: that sacrificeth in [d]gardens, and burneth incense upon [e]bricks.

Which remain among the [f]graves, and lodge in the deserts, which eat [g]swine’s flesh, and the broth of things polluted are in their vessels.

Which say, [h]Stand apart, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou; these are a smoke in my wrath, and a fire that [i]burneth all the day.

Behold, it is [j]written before me; I will not keep silence, but will render it and recompense it into their bosom.

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers, shall be [k]together (saith the Lord) which have burnt incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills; therefore will I measure their old work into their bosom.

Thus saith the Lord, As the wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a [l]blessing is in it, so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them whole.

But I will bring a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah that shall inherit my mountain; and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

10 And [m]Sharon shall be a sheepfold, and the valley of Achor shall be a resting place for the cattle of my people, that have sought me.

11 But ye are they that have forsaken the Lord, and forgotten mine holy Mountain, and have prepared a table for the [n]multitude, and furnish the drink offerings unto the number.

12 Therefore will I [o]number you to the sword, and all you shall bow down to the slaughter, because I called, and ye did not answer; I [p]spake, and ye heard not, but did evil in my sight, and did choose that thing which I would not.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 65:1 Meaning, the Gentiles which knew not God, should seek after him, when he had moved their heart with his holy Spirit, Rom. 10:20.
  2. Isaiah 65:2 He showeth the cause of the rejection of the Jews, because they would not obey him for any admonition of his Prophets, by whom he called them continually and stretched out his hand to draw them.
  3. Isaiah 65:2 He showeth that to delight in our own fantasies, is the declining from God and the beginning of all superstition and Idolatry.
  4. Isaiah 65:3 Which were dedicated to idols.
  5. Isaiah 65:3 Meaning, their altars, which he thus named by contempt.
  6. Isaiah 65:4 To consult with spirits, and to conjure devils, which was forbidden, Deut.18:11.
  7. Isaiah 65:4 Which was contrary to God’s Commandment, Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8.
  8. Isaiah 65:5 He showeth that hypocrisy is ever joined with pride and contempt of others.
  9. Isaiah 65:5 Their punishment shall never have end.
  10. Isaiah 65:6 So that the remembrance thereof cannot be forgotten.
  11. Isaiah 65:7 Shall be both punished together: and this declareth how the children are punished for their fathers’ faults, to wit, when the same faults or like are found in them.
  12. Isaiah 65:8 That is, it is profitable: meaning, that God will not destroy the faithful branches of his vineyard, when he destroyeth the rotten stocks, that is, the hypocrites.
  13. Isaiah 65:10 Which was a plentiful place in Judea to feed sheep, as Achor was for cattle.
  14. Isaiah 65:11 By the multitude and number he meaneth their innumerable idols of whom they thought they could never have enough.
  15. Isaiah 65:12 Seeing you cannot number your gods, I will number you with the sword.
  16. Isaiah 65:12 By my Prophets, whom ye would not obey.

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